Power generation in Punjab fell by 1,500 megawatt (MW) as a severe national coal shortage forced thermal plants to cut output. Two private-sector thermal plants, Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo, have a combined capacity of 3,380 MW and carried five and six days of coal stock respectively, while three state-owned units held between 13 and 29 days of stock. One plant in neighbouring Haryana was reported to have critical coal reserves. Officials identified 52 plants using domestic coal that were operating with critically low inventories.

A Central Electricity Authority report dated September 4 showed 57 coal-fired power plants were functioning with critically low coal stocks and their combined stock stood at 27.1 million tonne (mn t), equivalent to 47 per cent of the 57.7 mn t recommended level. Plants classified as critical had less than 25 per cent of their normative inventory. The list included some units that run on imported coal and one that takes washery coal.

The Coal Ministry attributed disruptions to prolonged monsoon conditions that left several seams wet and lower mine sections submerged, reducing output at Coal India Limited mines. As conditions improve, pumping operations and repairs to internal haul roads are under way to restore movement of coal to power stations. Heavy rainfall in coal-producing states such as Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh further strained supplies and transport.

Punjab's Power Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the shortage had deepened a local power crisis, prompting cuts that affected both domestic and industrial consumers and reducing generation by about 1,500 MW. He said reduced supplies from the centre had hit major thermal units and that the shortage had affected some 63 GW of output nationwide, with several plants forced to operate at around half capacity. The minister urged the central government to ensure uninterrupted coal flows and noted that units to which the state supplied coal retained around 10 days of stock owing to state efforts.